Between buying gifts or attending holiday pageants, getting weekday dinner on the table during the holidays can seem daunting. The holiday season is always packed with last-minute plans – it can be hard to make sure your family has time to eat dinner, let alone give yourself time to make it! We’ve collected 10 of our favorite wintery recipes that are ready in under 15 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to get back to festivities. From speedy proteins to red-and-green dishes, these recipes are sure to please even the Grinchiest of eaters. Try these throughout December to be a holiday hero.
Red and Green Chicken Chilaquiles
Breakfast for dinner gets a new twist with this festive-colored recipe. Store-bought red and green salsa are tossed with tortilla chips, shredded chicken, and diced peppers. Pile it all in a skillet and top it with cheese for an easy dinner that goes right from oven to table.
Seven fishes is a cherished Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition. While you might not have time to cook seven different types, this easy recipe uses chopped canned clams to make it even faster. Toss linguine with a quick tomatoey sauce and top it with fresh basil for a festive touch.
A grill pan makes your favorite warmer-weather dinners a breeze during the cold months. This speedy steak is rubbed with garlic powder and dried rosemary before getting grilled. Store-bought mashed potatoes are mixed with frozen chopped spinach to complete the dinner. Green potatoes will be your new holiday favorite side dish!
This 5-ingredient recipe is tinted red from a store-bought red curry paste. Cubes of protein-packed tofu and hearty eggplant are simmered in a coconut milk-based broth. Serve this quick-cooking dinner with microwaveable rice for a full meal, and garnish with fresh basil to complete the red-and-green color scheme.
Green gets some love with this easy freezer-hero recipe. Swap frozen peas for fresh shelled peas to make this light dinner even easier. Try switching up the ravioli flavor for extra-holiday flavor. Top the dish off with fresh mint and Pecorino, and dinner is ready to eat!
This hearty soup gets its rich green color from nutrient-packed kale. Creamy cannellini beans have plenty of protein to keep you powering through any mall shopping spree or neighborhood caroling. Serve this soup with dinner rolls or crust bread for a light but filling dinner. This is the perfect soup to make and run out the door!
Skip takeout and get this wonton soup on the table in 15 minutes- shhh, don’t tell Santa! This quick recipe will help boost your immunity with spinach and ginger, to help keep you going all winter long (no coughs allowed). Keep frozen mini chicken or vegetable dumplings in your freezer, and make this takeout cold-weather-classic on a whim any night of the week.
This 5-ingredient main combines sweet and savory flavors into one decadent dish. Sliced pork chops are paired with frozen pineapple chunks, savory sesame teriyaki sauce, and green onions for some extra crunch. Don’t forget to save some leftovers for the perfect packed lunch to make your coworkers jealous any time of the year.
This quick-cooking steak feels festive enough to be served as a holiday dinner! A piccata-inspired sauce (that is made in the microwave!) gets tossed with microwave-steamed potatoes and drizzled over the steak. Add a quick side salad for some veggies, and dinner is ready to eat.
Kids of any age will love this festive pasta. Mini mozzarella balls and grape tomatoes stand in for ornaments on the green pesto linguine. The pasta is tossed in a skillet with the sauteed tomatoes and finished with fresh basil. Try this easy recipe for Christmas Eve or any night in December.